Attention assistance device and method

ABSTRACT

An attention assistance device for providing attention assistance including various features that help maintain a user&#39;s focus on a given task. The attention assistance device may include an activity sensor that generates an activity output in response to detection of a user generated activity. The attention assistance device may also have a timer that increments a counter at regular time intervals, resets the counter in response to the activity output, and generates a timer output when the counter reaches a threshold. Further, the attention assistance device may include a stimulation unit that alerts a user in response to the timer output.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/242,141, filed Sep. 14, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of an attention assistance device, asper an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one implementation of operation of anattention assistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance system, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one implementation of the operation of anattention assistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance system, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance system, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance device, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance system, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an attentionassistance system, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an attention assistancedevice and method of using such a device including various features thathelp maintain a user's focus on a given task.

FIG. 1 shows a first arrangement of the attention assistance device 100according to the present invention. The attention assistance device 100may comprise a power unit 110 as a source for providing power to thevarious components of the device. The device 100 may also include asensor 120, a timer 130, and a stimulation unit 140.

Examples of the power unit 110 include, but are not limited to, abattery (e.g., NiCad, L⁺ ion, rechargeable, etc.), power control (whichmay have an automatic on/off/sleep selection component), etc. The powerunit 110 may be used to generate power to all of the various componentsof the device including the stimulation unit 140.

The sensor 120 may be any kind of sensor (i.e., motion sensor) thatdetects a user's movement or use of the device 100. Nonlimiting examplesof sensor 120 include a switch, a ball sensor, an optical emitterdetector, an accelerometer, a rocking ball switch, a pressure sensor,and equivalents thereof.

The stimulation unit 140 may be any kind of stimulator capable ofalerting the user. Nonlimiting examples of the stimulation unit 140include a light or illumination source (which may be still, pulsating,strobe, blinking randomly or in a particular pattern, etc.), a vibrator,a sound emitter, a tactile object, a moving component (such as bimetalarms), an electric shock stimulator, wheels, etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates a three-dimensional view of one arrangement of theattention assistance device 100. The device 100 may have a case 200 thatmay be in the shape of a writing instrument or pointer. On the case 200,there may be a display window 240 for displaying a variety ofinformation to the user. The information displayed may include one ormore of, for example, the number of detected inattention episodes,performance of stimulators, the time it took to regain attention (sensorredetecting attention assistance device usage) after being stimulated,activity sensor output history, stimulation unit activation frequency,timer history, battery life, date, time, progress meter, and type ofstimulation used. A button or switch 230 (or other user interface suchas a dial, a knob, a touchscreen display, etc.) may also be arranged onthe case 200 to power the device on and off, and for the user to providean input to the device 100. At one end of the case 200, the light orillumination source 210 as a stimulator unit may be positioned to alertthe user or indicate to the user that the device 100 is in a particularstate.

In alternative arrangements, the case may be a tube resembling a pen,mechanical pencil, pencil, pointer, watch, wristband, part of a flashdrive device, highlighter, bookmark, cell phone, personal data assistant(PDA), mobile telecommunications device, etc. The device 100 may also behoused as one component of a combination of the casings listed above tocreate a combinatorial device (e.g., a device with a highlighter and/orone or more pens attached).

One way to detect whether the device 200 is in use or not is that thesensor 220 may be able to contact an end or tip 250 of the device. Whena user places the tip 250 of the device 200 and touches a surface,connection may be made not only with the surface of any object (e.g., abook, paper, wall, etc.), but also between the sensor 220 and the tip.When the sensor 220 and the tip 250 are in contact, the sensor 220 maygenerate a signal indicating that the device 100 is in use. The tip 250of the device 100 may be any of a multitude of shapes, such as, forexample, spherical, conical, triangular, rectangular, pyramidal orsquare-like.

With respect to the various types of sensors 220 that may be used, theswitch may be a mechanical component that may click every time the tip250 makes contact with the surface of an object.

The ball sensor may be a spherical element that may be placed within theinner portion of the case 200. As the tip 250 makes contact with thesurface of an object, the tip 250 rises slightly into the case 200 andcontacts the ball sensor, creating a closed circuit. When the closedcircuit is in place, the device 100 is in use. If the tip 250 does notcreate contact with the ball sensor, an open circuit is created, and thedevice 100 is not in use.

The optical emitter detector may be a sensor that detects an opticalsignal emitted from an optical emitter. An optical emitter may be placedat the opposite end of the tip 250 and be triggered when a user touchesthe tip 250 of the device 100 with a surface. Upon the touching, a lightmay be emitted from the optical emitter, whereupon the light may bepicked up by the optical emitter detector, indicating that the device100 is in use.

The rocking ball switch may be similar to the ball sensor in that therocking ball switch includes a spherical element. The rocking ball maybe in contact with the side of the end of the tip 250. A switch may bepositioned along the inner wall of the case 200 such that a gap existsbetween the rocking ball and switch. When the tip 250 contacts thesurface of an object, the tip 250 may be pushed slightly up into thecase 200, causing the rocking ball to come into contact with the switchto indicate that the device 100 is in use.

The accelerometer may be a module that can sense and/or measure themovement of the device. Any vibration from movement made on the devicecan be transmitted as data to an accelerometer reader to determinewhether the device 100 is in use or not. Data presented may be in theform of graphical representations, such as charts with frequencymodulations, pie charts, bar graphs, etc. A non-limiting example of anaccelerometer that could be used in the device is the MMA7260Q made byFreescale Semiconductor.

As shown in FIG. 3, in operation of the device 100, the timer 130 may beset when the device 100 is first put to use, as shown in operation 300.In addition, the user may set a threshold time (t_(threshold)) as thetime at which the stimulation unit 140 may be activated when no motionor use of the device 100 is detected after an initial start. Atoperation 310, once the device is put in use, the sensor may detectmotion. At operation 320, when motion is no longer detected after aperiod of time (i.e., threshold time, such as 5 seconds, 30 seconds, 1minute, etc.), the stimulation unit 140 may be activated at operation330 to notify the user. Notification can be achieved by having thestimulation unit 140 send out a signal that alerts the user. The timingof the stimulation may vary and/or be adapted to the user's preferences,or the timing of the stimulation may be randomized. Once the signal issent, the stimulation unit 140 may create the stimulating feature toalert the user that motion or use of the device 100 is not beingdetected.

At operation 340, the user may either manually stop the stimulationdirectly or by pressing a button 230, or the stimulation may stopautomatically when the sensor 120 determines that motion or use of thedevice 100 has resumed. If motion or use of the device does not resumeor the user does not stop the stimulation after a period of time (apause at operation 350), the stimulation unit 140 may create thestimulating feature again to alert the user that motion or use of thedevice 100 is not being detected. This cycle may continue until the userstops the stimulation or motion or use of the device 100 is resumed.Alternatively, the cycle may repeat a particular number of times andthen turn off or go to a sleep mode.

FIG. 4 illustrates additional features of an arrangement 400 of thedevice. In this arrangement, a battery 410 may be provided as a powersource with a power detector 415 coupled to the battery 410 to monitorits usage life, and a voltage regulator 420 coupled to the battery 410for regulating the voltage provided to components of the device.Additionally, the device may include a microcontroller 460 thatfunctions to control the operation of the device and/or run programinstructions. A non-limiting example of a microcontroller that could beused in the device is the ATMega328 made by Atmel Corporation. A button425 and switch 435 may be provided to obtain input from a user to powerthe device on and off or put the device in sleep mode, as well asadjusting various settings or stopping the stimulation. An accelerometer465 may be included for sensing motion of the device, while a pressuresensor 470 may also be included for sensing use of the device when thetip of the device contacts a surface.

In this arrangement, the stimulation unit may include two or morestimulators as vibrator/audio 445 and illumination source, LED 450. Whentwo or more stimulators are incorporated, the microcontroller 460 of thedevice may randomly change the type of stimulation based upon theprevious performance. A reason for providing such randomization is toprevent the user from becoming sensitized to the stimulus. Further, thedevice may include an RF transmitter 455 as a wireless communicationunit for transmitting data relating to the use of the device to a remotecomputer 475 or equivalent computer hardware. The computer orcomputer-equivalent hardware may have a processor and the ability todisplay or print out data and/or results and may further include memorystorage capacity, a keyboard, a mouse, an image module capable ofdisplaying data, etc. The computer 475 may include an RF receiver 480 toreceive the RF signal transmitted by the RF transmitter 455 of thedevice, as well as a microcontroller 485 to convert the signal andanalyze and/or display the data at the remote computer 475.Alternatively, the wireless interface may be Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11technology, RF, 3G, 4G, mobile telecommunications wireless standards, orsimilar wireless technology. A non-limiting example of an RF transmitterand receiver that can be used in the device are the MO-SAWR-AS315Mtransmitter and MO-RX3400-A315M receiver both made by Holy StoneEnterprise.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an alternative arrangement of the device100. Similar to the device shown in FIG. 1, the device 100 may include asensor 520, a timer 530, and a stimulation unit 540, in addition to apower unit 510 as a source for providing power to the various componentsof the device. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, the device 100 mayinclude a control unit 550 and a memory unit 560. The memory unit 560may be any type of storage device, including but not limited to RAM,ROM, etc. The memory unit may store program instructions or software forthe operation of the device 100 that are read and run by the controlunit 550. Further, the control unit 550 may be used for controlling thevarious operations of the device 100 and may write data relating to theuse of the device 100 to the memory unit 560. The data relating to theuse of the device or performance of the user may include, for example,activity sensor output history, stimulation unit activation frequency,timer history, battery life, and type of stimulation used.

The timer 530 can be part of the device 100, as shown in FIG. 5.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the timer 630 may be incorporatedinto the software run by the control unit 650 of the device. In thearrangement shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, where the device includes acontrol unit, the timer and threshold time may be adaptively set basedon the data accumulated regarding the performance of the user.Alternatively, the device may be connected to a computer or equivalentcomputer hardware so that the user may set the timer. Similar to thearrangement shown in FIG. 5, the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 may alsoinclude a power unit 610, a sensor 620, a stimulation unit 640, and amemory unit 660, in addition to the timer 630 and control unit 650discussed above.

The operation of the device that is shown in the diagram in FIG. 7 issimilar to that discussed above with respect to FIG. 3 except that inthis example, for the operation 700 of FIG. 7, the timer and thresholdtime are adaptively set based on the data relating to the use of thedevice. Additionally, at least one stimulator may be adaptively selectedin operation 705 based on the data relating to the use of the device. Inthis way, the device can automatically adjust the threshold time usedfor alerting the user of inactivity of the device based on how well theuser is performing. Similarly, the stimulation can automatically beadjusted and varied based on the user's performance and/or the storeddata relating to the use of the device.

Additional arrangements of the attention assistance device are shown inFIGS. 8-13. These arrangements are variations of the device 400 shown inFIG. 4, with like components being like-numbered. The arrangement shownin FIG. 8 is similar to device 400 of FIG. 4 except in this example,device 800 has a pressure sensor 870 for sensing use of the device whenthe tip of the device contacts a surface, without an accelerometer. Thearrangement shown in FIG. 9 is similar to device 400 of FIG. 4 except inthis example, device 900 has an accelerometer 965 for sensing motion ofthe device, without a pressure sensor.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 10 is similar to device 400 of FIG. 4except in this example, device 1000 has an accelerometer 1065 forsensing motion of the device, without a pressure sensor. Anotherdifference from device 400 is that the arrangement of device 1000 shownin FIG. 10 lacks a communication interface, thereby reducing costs ofproduction of the device 1000. Similarly, the arrangement shown in FIG.11 is similar to device 400 of FIG. 4 except in this example, device1100 has a pressure sensor 1170 for sensing use of the device when thetip of the device contacts a surface, without an accelerometer. Also,the arrangement shown in FIG. 11 lacks a communication interface,thereby reducing costs of production of the device

The arrangement shown in FIG. 12 is similar to device 400 of FIG. 4except in this example, device 1200 has an accelerometer 1265 forsensing motion of the device, without a pressure sensor. Anotherdifference from device 400 is that the arrangement of device 1200 shownin FIG. 12 may include a wired interface 1205 for transmitting datarelating to the use of the device from a data output 1255 to a remotecomputer 1275 or equivalent computer hardware. The computer 1275 mayinclude a microcontroller 1285 to convert the received data and analyzeand/or display the data at the remote computer 1275. The wired interface1205 with data output 1255 may be, for example, USB, serial port,parallel port, modem or phone line, Ethernet, or FireWire. Similarly,the arrangement shown in FIG. 13 similar to device 400 of FIG. 4 exceptin this example, device 1300 has a pressure sensor 1370 for sensing useof the device when the tip of the device contacts a surface, without anaccelerometer. Also, like the arrangement shown in FIG. 12, thearrangement of FIG. 13 may include a wired interface 1305 fortransmitting data relating to the use of the device from a data output1355 to a remote computer 1375 or equivalent computer hardware. Thecomputer 1375 may include a microcontroller 1385 to convert the receiveddata and analyze and/or display the data at the remote computer 1375.Again, the wired interface 1305 with data output 1355 may be, forexample, USB, serial port, parallel port, modem or phone line, Ethernet,or FireWire.

The attention assistance device may help a medical provider (e.g.,doctor, nurse, chiropractor, emergency medical service provider,physician, therapist, etc.) analyze the activities of patients with ADD,ADHD, or other attention disorders by, for example, monitoring how oftenattention is lost or how often some stimulus is needed. The medicalproviders may receive data from the attention assistance device remotelyor directly from the attention assistance device. The data may be usedby a medical provider to provide adequate medical treatment or advice tousers, especially those with attention-deficit disorders. The data mayinclude one or more of, for example, the number of detected inattentionepisodes, performance of stimulators, the time it took to regainattention (sensor redetecting attention assistance device usage) afterbeing stimulated, activity sensor output history, stimulation unitactivation frequency, timer history, battery life, date, time, progressindicator and type of stimulation used.

Whether the focus is a task with writing, reading, or presenting asubject matter, the attention assistance device is expected to keep aperson with ADD, or other attention disorder, on track with the task athand. Furthermore, arrangements of the attention assistance device makeit inconspicuous (such as appearing like a regular pen or pointer) suchthat the user may use the device in public without others knowing it isan attention assistance device to avoid potential embarrassment of theuser.

Further, the attention assistance device may be multi-tipped. Where theattention assistance device is multi-tipped, one tip may be used as theattention assistance device tip and the other tip may be used as awriting instrument. Either or both of the tips may have a writing sourcestorage section that may have an ink source, lead source, crayon source,or highlighter source.

An automatic on/off/sleep mode option may be set by the user. Becausethe stimulator may be activated once the attention assistance device isno longer detected in use, the automatic on/off/sleep mode option mayoverride the stimulator after a certain period of time. For example,after 30 seconds or 1 minute of stimulation, the attention assistancedevice may automatically be turned off or pause (enter sleep mode). Ifthe attention assistance device enters sleep mode, the attentionassistance device may wake up after a certain time that may be set bythe user (e.g., 2 minutes) by having the stimulator send out anotherstimulus. Such stimulus may be the same stimulus prior to entering thesleep mode or be a different stimulus.

Another example of the attention assistance device put to use, asoutlined in FIG. 7 may be as follows: adaptively set timer (t₀) andthreshold time (t_(threshold)) at 700, and adaptively select at leastone stimulator at 705. Time t₀ may mark the start of usage of theattention assistance device. Threshold time t_(threshold) is the time(which may be set by the user or may be the default time setting) atwhich a level of inactivity is no longer tolerated, thus causing astimulator to be activated. If time surpasses this threshold time at720, at least one stimulator may be activated at 730. If not, then theattention assistance device may continue to be in use at 710. If astimulator is activated, the next aspect is whether the user stopped thestimulator at 740. If so, then the attention assistance device may becontinued for use at 710. If not, then there may be either a pause 750or the attention assistance device may shut down automatically. If thereis a pause 750, the same or another stimulator may be activated at 730after a certain period of time (e.g. 1 minute later, etc.).

In an alternative implementation of the attention assistance device, thesensor, for example an accelerometer, determines use of the device froma user's movement of the device from one point on a page or surface toanother point on the page or surface. For example, the sensor maydetermine the device is in use based upon a user moving the device fromthe left-most or right-most side of a page or surface to the oppositeright-most or left-most side of the page or surface, such as moving fromthe end of a line of text to the start of another line of text.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example, and notlimitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevantart(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading theabove description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevantart(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the presentembodiments should not be limited by any of the above describedexemplary embodiments.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlightthe functionality and advantages, are presented for example purposesonly. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than thatshown. For example, the steps listed in any flowchart may be re-orderedor only optionally used in some embodiments.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, andespecially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art whoare not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of thetechnical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosureis not intended to be limiting as to the scope in any way.

Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include theexpress language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase“means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112,paragraph 6.

What is claimed is:
 1. An attention assistance device, comprising: a) anactivity sensor configured to generate an activity output in response todetection of a user generated activity; b) a timer configured to: i)increment a counter at regular time intervals; ii) reset the counter inresponse to the activity output; iii) generate a timer output when thecounter reaches a threshold; c) a stimulation unit configured to alert auser in response to the timer output, the stimulation unit including avibrator; d) a casing in the shape of a writing instrument; e) a writingsource storage section within the casing; f) a tip portion coupled tothe writing source storage section such that the user can make visiblemarks on a surface with the tip portion; g) a storage unit for storingdata related to the user's operation of the device; h) a user interfacefor the user to input data; i) a display for displaying data to theuser; j) a power unit; and k) a transmission interface for transmittingdata to a computing device.
 2. The attention assistance device of claim1, wherein the activity includes motion of the device.
 3. The attentionassistance device, comprising: a) an activity sensor configured togenerate an activity output in response to detection of a userperforming an activity associated with a task that requires attention;b) a timer configured to: i) increment a counter at regular timeintervals; ii) reset the counter in response to the activity output;iii) generate a timer output when the counter reaches a threshold; andc) a stimulation unit configured to alert a user that the user hasstopped performing the activity in response to the timer output, whereinthe activity is an end portion of the device contacting a surface. 4.The attention assistance device of claim 3, wherein the activity sensoris configured to detect a soft contacting of the surface and a hardcontacting of the surface.
 5. The attention assistance device of claim1, the activity sensor comprises at least one of: a) an accelerometer;b) an optical emitter and detector; c) a pressure sensor; d) a switch;e) a ball sensor; and f) a rocking ball switch; or g) a combination ofthe above.
 6. The attention assistance device of claim 1, wherein thestimulation unit comprises at least one of: a) an illumination device;b) a tactile feedback device; and c) a sound emitter; or d) acombination of the above.
 7. The attention assistance device of claim 6,wherein the tactile feedback device comprises at least one of: a) avibrator; b) an electric shock pulse; c) a moving part; and d) a wheel;or e) a combination of the above.
 8. The attention assistance device,comprising: a) an activity sensor configured to generate an activityoutput in response to detection of a user performing an activityassociated with a task that requires attention; b) a timer configuredto: i) increment a counter at regular time intervals; ii) reset thecounter in response to the activity output; iii) generate a timer outputwhen the counter reaches a threshold; c) a stimulation unit configuredto alert a user that the user has stopped performing the activity inresponse to the timer output d) a casing in the shape of a writinginstrument; e) a writing source storage section within the casing; andf) a tip portion coupled to the writing source storage section such thatthe user can make visible marks on a surface with the tip portion. 9.The attention assistance device of claim 3, further comprising a storageunit for storing data related to the user's operation of the device. 10.The attention assistance device of claim 9, wherein the stored datacomprises at least one of: a) activity sensor output history; b)stimulation unit activation frequency; c) timer history; d) batterylife; and e) type of stimulation used; f) or a combination of the above.11. The attention assistance device of claim 1, further comprising amicrocontroller.
 12. The attention assistance device, comprising: a) anactivity sensor configured to generate an activity output in response todetection of a user performing an activity associated with a task thatrequires attention; b) a timer configured to: i) increment a counter atregular time intervals; ii) reset the counter in response to theactivity output; iii) generate a timer output when the counter reaches athreshold; and c) a stimulation unit configured to alert a user that theuser has stopped perfoiming the activity in response to the timeroutput, wherein the threshold is adaptive.
 13. The attention assistancedevice of claim 3, further comprising a user interface for the user toinput data.
 14. The attention assistance device of claim 13, wherein theuser interface comprises at least one of: a) a button; b) a switch; c) adial; d) a knob; and e) a touchscreen display; or f) a combination ofthe above.
 15. The attention assistance device of claim 3, furthercomprising a display for displaying data to the user.
 16. The attentionassistance device of claim 15, wherein the displayed data comprises atleast one of: a) activity sensor output history; b) stimulation unitactivation frequency; c) timer history; d) battery life; e) date; f)time; g) type of stimulation unit in use; h) memory capacity; and i) aprogress meter; or j) a combination of the above.
 17. The attentionassistance device of claim 3, further comprising a wired interface fortransmitting data to a computing device.
 18. The attention assistancedevice of claim 3, further comprising a wireless interface fortransmitting data to a computing device.
 19. The attention assistancedevice, comprising: a) an activity sensor configured to generate anactivity output in response to detection of a user performing anactivity associated with a task that requires attention; b) a timerconfigured to: i) increment a counter at regular time intervals; ii)reset the counter in response to the activity output; iii) generate atimer output when the counter reaches a threshold; and c) a stimulationunit configured to alert a user that the user has stopped performing theactivity in response to the timer output, wherein the attentionassistance device is integrated into at least one of: a) a pointer; b)watch; c) wristband; d) flash drive device; e) cell phone; f) PDA; g)mobile telecommunications device; and h) bookmark.